After the Houston Rockets lost a double-overtime season-opening thriller — 125-124 — to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder , Fred VanVleet went into coach mode. VanVleet tore his ACL during an offseason mini-camp and is expected to miss the entire regular season. Still, without physically partaking in all of the action, he made his presence felt on the court.

VanVleet offered advice to his teammates on the floor, per Rockets beat writer Danielle Lerner.

“Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, who is out after ACL surgery, is on the court at the end of practice giving teammates pointers on a pick-and-roll drill. Not wearing a visible brace on his knee,” Lerner reported.

Clinging onto a two-point lead toward the end of regulation, the Rockets nearly picked up their first win of

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